First radiotherapy

[Undyddarytro]

Went with my husband for first radiation therapy today. Lovely staff, loads of good positive vibes but unfortunately,hopefully due to nerves and not eating etc he was so sick when we came home. Supposed to take four chemo tablets morning and evening while having the radiotherapy but since he was vomiting,seemed pointless. Anyway things seem to have settled now and the tablets have been taken. Anyone with any experience of chemo radiation out there?

[Undyddarytro]

I spoke too soon. Had second radiotherapy today and has been very sick all day.Anyone with any comments?

[PCUK Nurse Jeni]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about this.

Did you let the radiotherapy staff know yesterday when he went for his second dose? And if so, what did they say or recommend? Is he on any anti-sickness medication? Is the vomiting settling as the day goes by, or getting worse? Is he still able to tolerate fluids?

Please do get in touch with the radiotherapy department and let them know that he is being sick after each dose so far, and I am sure they will provide guidance as to what to do, as well as anti-sickness medication if he is not on these already.

Kind regards,

Jeni.

Jeni Jones

Pancreatic Cancer Specialist Nurse

Support Team

Pancreatic Cancer UK

email: nurse@pancreaticcancer.org.uk

support line: 0808 801 0707

[Undyddarytro]

Yes we have discussed this with a doctor and changed the anti sickness pills. Still vomiting last night and could not take the chemo tabkets. Able to eat breakfast today and take tablets before treatment.We then decided to go to a pub, have half a lager and some scampi and chips!! Totally mad I know. The reasoning being, if he was going to be sick he might as well have something to bring up. We drove home, over an hour, and so far so good. Has not been sick and is generally better. Not brilliant, but better. Off again tomorrow and a consultation with the nurse,bloods etc. Thank you for your reply.

[PCUK Nurse Jeni]

Hi again,

This sounds positive.

Hopefully, it will settle down now.

Jeni.

[Undyddarytro]

Again I spoke too soon. After the scampi etc he was fine, well not sick, and was able to take chemo tablets with light supper.Off to sleep and then wham at 4 in the morning violently sick. Off we went again in the morning. Anti sickness tablets changed again and so far he a been ok. The weekend will be a very well deserved break.

[Undyddarytro]

This is horrendous. The sickness persists. Nothing seems to work. Has been for radiotherapy today again and took chemo tablets in the morning but cane home and was sick at keast three times. Has gone to sleep now but I doubt if we can carry on like this. Nine treatments endured 19 to go. Has anyone else had a reaction like this to chemoradiation?

[toodotty]

Sorry I cannot advise, this is a course of treatment that I am not aware of. Erika.

[PCUK Nurse Dianne]

Dear Undyddarytro,

I am sorry to hear your husband is struggling at present. I wonder if you might wish to touch base with us by phone or email. The sickness may be due to other causes perhaps, ie is this due to the radiotherapy, or is this due to some stricture in the digestive area. My thoughts are in wondering if your husband has an obstruction at the lower end of the stomach (this is called Gastric outlet obstruction) and may not in fact be related to the chemoradiotherapy at all, it may be co-incidental. Please do touch base if it would help to talk through this, and also for us to understand any medications that may have been prescribed for the sickness.

Kind regards,

Dianne

Pancreatic Cancer Specialist Nurse

Pancreatic Cancer UK

Support line: 0808 801 0707

email: nurse@pancreaticcancer.org.uk

[Undyddarytro]

Thank you. We have spent Christmas in hospital. The sickness,green bile in vast quantities, became so much worse and the stomach and bowel just stopped working. Have had various anti sickness, none seemed to work. On a pump driver of metraclopromide and drip of steroids etc. Last night he seemed to have turned a corner and has not been sick and it seems as if things are moving. Staff at hospital on Christmas day were lovely.

[Undyddarytro]

Just incase someone else is in a similar position - the recovery after Christmas was very short lived. Started treatment again after weekend ( week ago) had a late Chrismas dinner night before, got up had a good breakfast and felt as good as he could expect and ready to go. Swallowed the chemo tablets and off we went to hospital for radiotherapy. The nausea started before the therapy. Five minutes under the machine and off home. Sick three times in car. Sick all night. Back next day unable and unwilling to take tablets, still sick but had treatment. Told to halve the dose. . .spent one whole day on drip but still given the radiotherapy. Had another syringe driver connected, still feeling ill, treatment again next day and home again. Sick/ diarrhoea and ended up in hospital a&e on drip Friday night till Sat afternoon. Has stopped being sick and was back again today for 18th radiotherapy still with syringe driver attached. Today, without the chemo tablets everything is ok. Nurse today commented that they hardly ever see anyone so sick when on this regime and it is so odd as he was also the only patient they had seen who had been able to tolerate 24 sessions of Folifox chemo and then the 5Fu pump for months. Good luck to all out there. This is a hell of a journey.